Plug and jack construction



May 9, 1939. T. ,.J. oBszARNY 2,157,428

PLUG AND-JACK CONSTRUCTION Filed June 21, 1937 4 4 f6 J4 l INSULATION zfgk-L-l/gj.

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Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-lcs Guardian Electric Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill.,

corporation of- Illinois Application June 21, 1937, Serial No. 149,380 6 Claims. (Cl. 173-332) This invention. relates to detachably connectible devices for completing portions of electrical circuits, and more particularly to plug and jack constructions.

Plug 'and jack constructions of the type embodying the present invention are particularly adapted for use in multiple units, including banks or groups, for simultaneously completing or breaking portions of a plurality of different 10 electrical circuits, for controlling a wide variety of electrical devices. Devices of this type, as heretofore constructed, possess several defects and disadvantages which render them unsatisfactory for use-in many instances, particularly l5 where is is necessary to frequently lconnect and disconnect' the plugs and jacks. In some constructions the jacks are formed so that theydo not readily lend themselves for use in group assemblies, as they do not readily accommodate slight misalignment or variations of the cooperating plugs, resulting in undue friction, and rendering it difficult to` connect and disconnect the plugs and jacks. Further, the forms of jacks as heretofore ,constructed and used in group assemblies, do not insure positive electrical contact between the plug and jack, due to slight misalignment or location of either the plugs or jacks.

One object of the present invention is to pro- 0 vide a novel and improved' jack construction,

especially adapted for use in group or bank assemblies, and which permits quick and easy con-v nection or disconnection with the cooperating plugs.

Another object is to provide an improved jack of the character indicated, which is self-aligning with respect to a cooperating plug to insure positive electrical contact for completing a portion of an electrical circuit. l

A further object resides in the provision of an improved jack of the character indicated, which is constructed to cause cleansing of the surface of the plug when insertedtherein and withdrawn therefrom. And a further object is to provide an improved l plug and jack construction which lend themselves readily for embodiment in group assemblies, and which may be economically produced. Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description, taken in con-y "nection with the accompanying drawing, in-

which: L

Figure l is a side elevation of group plug and jack assembly, embodying the present invention,

with the plugs shown only .partially entered into their-cooperating jacks. y

Figure 2 is anend elevation of the assembly seen in Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device, with the unit of plugs shown out of engagement with the jacks.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the plug and jack assembly, taken as indicatedat line `4--4 on Figure 1, showing the plugs removed from the jacks. v

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of myr novel and improved jack.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown rin the drawing a unit including eight sets of plugs and jacks, arranged in two banks of four each. It is to be understood, however, that devices of this type may be made up of various numbers of plugs and jacks in a bank or group, as desired. The device is composed of two detachably connectible units, one carrying the plugs and the other the jacks. The unit carrying the plugs includes a panel, l0, of insulating material from which project at right angles', as seen in the drawing, a plurality of elongated plugs, Il. These plugs desirably are of cylindrical, tubular form, each having a shoulder, I2, adjacent one end, seated against the surface f the panel, and the portion beyond the shoulder projects through an aperture in the panel and is riveted over against the opposite side, as yindicated at I4. The lower end of the plugs is rounded to facilitate their entrance into the cooperating jacks. For economy in manufacture, the plugs are spaced uniform distances apart and from the marginal edge of the panel. A highly desired arrangement, asv shown, is to provide a panel of proper width and mount thereon two aligned series' of plugs, and, in manufacture, the panel maybe in the'form of a strip of substantial length to permit severing into lengths containing adesired number of plugs.

Mounted on each plug and anchored between clip, I5, which extends laterally beyond the adjacent marginal edge of the panel, l0, and having its end portion bent upwardly and formed with an aperture, I6, to provide a connection for an electricalv conductor.

The unit carrying the jacks includes two spaced-apart, substantially parallel co-extensive panels, 18, of insulating material supported at their opposite ends on metal supports including legs, I9, each having a foot, 2l, adapted to be secured to a suitable mounting as by screws, 22.

the shoulder, I2, and the panel, is a terminal l Cil The panels, it, andy supports are secured together to form a unitary assembly, and each leg has a tine, 23, struck outwardly therefrom and crimped around the lower edge of the corresponding panel, and these legs and panels are rigidly connected together by rivets, 2li, with a panel, 25, of insulating material interposed between the respective pairs of legs, ld, and substantially co-extensive with the panels, l5.

Mounted on the outer face of each panel, l, are a plurality of jacks, il, spaced apart a distance corresponding substantially to the spacing of the plugs, il, with the jacks on the opposite panels aligned in pairs. The jacks are formed as metallic stampings and each includes an elongated body, 28, adapted to seat against the outer surface of the panel, and a pair of spacedapart yieldable ngers, 30, extending outwardly at right angles to the body, and each connected adjacent one end to said body. rIhe free ends of the ngers are formed to provide a pair of cooperating, oppositely facing, convexly curved surfaces, 3 l, adapted to be yieldingly spread apart to accommodate a plug, ll l, therebetween. The curved surface portion of each nger is formed with an elongated aperture, 32, extending in the direction of the lengthof the ngers. 'Ihese apertures are of such size and location as to serve as saddles for receiving and guiding the plugs in their movement into and out of engagement with the fingers. 'I'hese apertures thus tend to position the fingers relatively to the plugs and provide a contact with the plug at the edge of the slot to insure positive electricalcontact between the plug and jack. Moreover, the edges of the metal around the apertures, serve as Scrapers for cleansing the surface of the plugs when inserted in or removed from between the yieldable fingers.

To anchor the jacks on the panels, ld, the upper end of the body of each jack is formed with a lug, 3Q, adapted to be extended through an aperture, 35, in the panel, l5, and crimped around the edge of the aperture, and the lower end of the body is formed with a lug, 36, from which a tine, 3l, is struck and crimped around the lower edge of the panel, it, as seen in Figure 4. The opening in the lug, 3B, formed by the removal of the tine, serves to provide a terminal for connection of an electrical conductor.

The intermediate panel, 25, of -insulating material, thus insures against any possible shorting of electrical circuits between the lugs of aligned pairs of jacks.

As may be seen in the drawing, olne end of the panel, l0, extends a distance from the pair of adjacent plugs, ll, greater than at the other end, and the leg, i9, of one of the supporting brackets, projects upwardly a substantial distance above panels, i8, as indicated at I9, so that the upper unit carrying the plugs, Il, may only be aligned in one position for insuring engagement of the plugs, i i, with'their proper corresponding jacks, 27.

A unit comprising an assembly or group of jacks, as herein disclosed, thus readily accommodates the plugs of the cooperating unit, so

that said unit carrying the plugs may be quickly and easily attached to, or detached from, the unit carrying the jacks, and insures positive electrical contact between each set, of plugs and jacks when connected.

Although I herein show a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly, it is capable of modication and rearrangement without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understoodas limiting` the invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as it may be so limited in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the character described, a jack unit including a panel of insulating material, and a plurality of jacks mounted in a bank on said panel with their plug openings eX- tending in a direction substantially parallel to the panel, said jacks being adapted for cooperation with a plurality of plugs arranged in a bank to complete portions of a plurality of different electrical circuits, said jacks each being formed as stampings, including a body mounted iiat against the panel, and a pair of spaced-apart, yieldable elongated fingers each being solely connected adjacent its lower end to said body, and the upper ends of said lingers being free and yieldable away from each other, the free ends of said fingers being formed to present a pair of cooperating, oppositely facing, convexly curved surfaces extending in the general direction of the length of said fingers for embracing the surface of a plug extending parallel to said panel.

2. In a structure of the character described, a jack unit including a panel of insulating material, and a plurality of jacks mounted in a bank on said panel with their plug openings extending in a direction substantially parallel to the panel, said jacks being adapted for cooperation with a plurality of plugs arranged in a bank to complete portions of a plurality of different electrical circuits, said jacks each being formed as stampings, including a body, and a pair of spaced-apart, yieldable, elongated fingers each being solely connected adjacent one end to the body, the opposite end of one of said lingers being free and yieldable'away from the other, the opposite ends of said fingers being formed to present a pair of cooperating, oppositely facing, convexly curved surfaces extending in the general direction of the length of said fingers for embracing the surface of a plug extending parallel to said panel.

3. As an article of manufacture, a jack formed as a metallic stamping and comprising'a substantially flat body, and a pair of spaced-apart, yieldable ngers, formed at right angles to and extending in the general direction of the body and each of said fingers being solely connected adjacent its lower end to said body and the upper ends of said ngers being free and yieldable away from each other, the free ends of the fingers being formed to provide a pair of cooperating, oppositely facing, convexly curved surfaces, extending in the general direction of the length of said fingers.

4. As an article of manufacture, a jack formed as a metallic stamping and comprising a substantially at body, and a pair of spaced-apart, yieldable fingers, formed at right angles to and' extending in the general direction of the body and each being connected adjacent its lower end to said body, the free ends of the ngers being formed to provide a pair of cooperating, oppositely facing, convexly curved surfaces, extending in the general direction of the length of said fingers, the body including a lug portion below the connection of the ngers and having a tine struck therefrom to provide means for anchoring the body to a mounting, and the opening formed by removal of the tine serving to provide a connection for an electrical conductor.

5. As an article of manufacture, a jack formed as a metallic stamping and comprising a substantially flat body, and a pair of spaced-apart, yieldable fingers, formed at right angles to and extending inthe general direction of the body and each being connected adjacent its lower end to said body, the free upper ends of the iingers being formed to provide a pair of co-operating, oppositely facing, convexly curved surfaces, extending in the general direction of the length of the fingers, the body including lugs at upper and lower ends, the lower lug having a tine struck therefrom which, together with the upper lug, provides means for anchoring the body to a mounting, the opening formed in the lower lug by removal of the tine serving to provide a connection for an electrical conductor.

6. As an article of manufacture, a jack formed as a metallic stamping and comprising a body including a pair of spaced-apart yieldable iingers each being solely connected adjacent one end to said body, the opposite end of one of said ngers being free and yieldable away from the other, said opposite ends of said fingers being formed to provide a pair of cooperating, oppositely facing, convexly curved surfaces extending in the general direction of the length of said ngers, the convexly curved surface of one of said ngers being formed with an elongated opening to serve as a guide for and to assist in maintaining a cooperating plug in proper electrical contact with said ngers.

TI-IEDORE J. OBSZARNY.

DISCLAIMER 2,157,428.-I7tedore J. Obszamy, VChic o, 111. PLUG Aum JACK CoNsTRUcTroN. Patent dated May 9, 1939. Disc aimer filed April 23, 1941, by the assignee, Guardian Electric Manufacturing 0o. Hereb enters this disclaimer to claims 2 and 6 of said specification.

[ m'al Gazette May 20, 1.941.] 

